Power Trac Question

[jcmseven]

Power Trac Owners,

At the risk of repeating questions from previous posts, I would like to inquire about the Power Trac, and whether I should consider one for my needs. I currently have a John Deere 3720 which I really like and wish to keep for a while. I have also entertained the thought of adding an inexpensive dedicated mower such as a ZTR for some additional mowing I have. I have visited the PT discussion group and have some interest in exploring the PT concept. The real problem I have with my 3720 is that it is too big to fit on some of my property. I have an area of about 1.5 acres in the back of my lot that I really need to access, but the tractor is just too big. I have to make a sharp turn around the rear of my house to do so, and that is impossible for my tractor. It does great on the other parts of my land. I do not want to spend a mint on the equipment, but I would need a blade and a materials bucket at least. I would also need something that could effectively negotiate soft ground, hills and be able to remove small stumps and work in tight places, BUT be strong enough to clear paths and work areas for gardens without sinking or tearing up the ground. My concern is that although I am mechanically inclined to some degree, I lack the expertise and time to fix something that breaks and would want to know how PT stands behind its product. This would not be a heavy hourly usage machine, but when I used it I would really use it. My minimum width to fit through is 54" and that is on a turn, so whatever machine I choose it would have to do that. Thanks for the advice.

John M

 

[Gravy]

John,

One of the smaller PT's - from the 180 to the 425 - would likely be just the thing for what you want to do.

We got a 425 instead of a 1430 or larger machine specifically because it will work in tight areas. We have a narrow back yard that a CUT simply couldn't fit in across the short dimension. We also have rocky, fairly heavily wooded slopes of varying steepness where a CUT wouldn't fit, or would roll over.

Speaking of slopes, we do have some here that are at the limits of what our 425 will climb. Sometimes it's a question of whether the tires will spin or the engine will stall first, but these are quite steep slopes with loose surfaces (the kind where, if you're on foot, and you slip, you may or may not be able to stop).

We also have some wet spots. We mostly try to avoid them, but our 425 has never come close to getting stuck when we have to go through one. The smaller PT's have very wide tires compared to a typical CUT. The worst damage ours has done so far is to tear up the grass on steeper slopes.

As long as you have a general small engine shop and a hydraulic/tractor shop in your area, the maintenance and repair issue is doable.

Since PT has no dealers, the warranty is a bit odd - the labor end is only covered if you bring the machine to Tazewell. Otherwise, they cover parts only. If you factor in the bang for the buck of the machine (as compared to a conventional CUT with equivalent capabilities), you may find that the warranty issue isn't really a big deal.

PT's are generally only fair mowers, if you compare them to the ZTR's. However, a PT is the next best thing to a ZTR in terms of maneuverability and turning radius, but a ZTR won't lift 800 lbs, or run a stump grinder, or most of the other 40+ factory implements available from PT.

Hope this helps.

Gravy

 

[AltavistaLawn]

I love my 1850....I'll probably never own another CUT. No comparison, the PT actually makes most work fun.

But for mowing a ZTR is unbeatable.
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[FOURTEEN]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( it will work in tight areas. )</font>

<font color="red"> Very important = Since the Power Trac is an articulating tractor, the rear wheels follow exactly in the tire tracks of the front wheels, so anywhere that the front tires can fit through and go, the rest of the PT will follow!!

It's kind of weird in the winter to look out and see only one set of tire tracks circling around in the snow!!


</font>

 

[Bob999]

<font color="red"> Very important = Since the Power Trac is an articulating tractor, the rear wheels follow exactly in the tire tracks of the front wheels, </font>

Like many of Fourteen's statements this is a bit of an exaggeration. By personal experience I know that the rear wheels do NOT "exactly" follow!. Several times I have passed close to a tree with the front wheels only to hit the tree with the rear wheels.

 

[cqaigy]

<font color="green">I know that the rear wheels do NOT "exactly" follow! </font>

<font color="red"> I too have found that under certain circumstances, that there will be some slippage that allows the front and back wheels to not track exactly. On any piece of equipment, when driving close to any object you don't want to run over or into, /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif keep an eye on it.</font> /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SnowRidge]

<font color="blue"> " By personal experience I know that the rear wheels do NOT "exactly" follow!" </font>

That's been my experience too. Seems like the distance from the front wheels to the pivot pin would have to be the same as the distance from the rear wheels to the pivot pin in order for the wheels to theoretically run in the exact same track.

I have noticed the variance is greatest when turning on the sides of hills.

 

[FOURTEEN]

<font color="red"> OK! Put your micrometers away! The rear wheels may not precisely, or "exactly", follow the front, but the point is that they do follow very very close, and certainly do not cut the corner and leave significantly smaller radius tracks like the wheels on a conventional tractor!!!!

The Power Trac can turn and clearly move through spaces that a conventional CUT of similar track would hit its side or rear wheel while trying to make the turn after its front wheels have passed through!!

Look at the tracks left in the snow!! Even during sharp turns only 2 tracks are left, not 4!!!

</font>

 

[MossRoad]

I agree with Fourteen. If you go slow on level ground, the rear wheel follow in the front wheel's tracks exactly. If you go fast, the fronts will push a very tiny bit. If the ground is wet and you are on a slight slope it will slip a bit, too. I have been amazed when following curves in my edging or mowing into inside corners that as long as the front wheels clear something the rears will never hit what the front wheels have already passed. I hardly ever watch the rears anymore. They just follow along like an obediant dog. Heal! Good boy!

Watch the first half of this video and you will see the front tires following the rear tires as I go in reverse.

Watch the end of this video as I brush hog. You can see the rears following the front.

Exhibit #3. A video of a tight turn on a slope. Watch the rears follow the front.

Exhibit #4. Donuts around a spruce tree.

Exhibit #5 An S curve along a flower bed.

And the coup de gracy A full lock left turn donut on asphalt with muddy tires. Look at those perfect tire tracks! Your honor, the defense rests! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

But -- slide sideways right against a fence, turn the fronts away and rears hit it. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Same if you drive straight in beside a tree or post and then turn away.

Bet I know more ways to hit things than you guys do. (Except Fourteen - his wheels hit things with the insides that he has on the outsides.)